Fulfil promises made to Ladakh people: Sonam Wangchuk to PM
A renowned education reformist, Wangchuk has been on 'climate fast' in sub-zero temperatures since 6 March
PTI
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Wangchuk said Modi is a devotee of Lord Ram and should follow his teaching of 'pran jaye par vachan na jaye' (one may lose their life, but must not break their promise)
Leh, 26 March
Climate activist
Sonam Wangchuk, who is leading a hunger strike here to demand statehood for
Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, on Tuesday
made a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil promises made to
the people.
In video messages
shared on X, a frail-looking Wangchuk, whose 'climate fast' entered the 21st
day on Tuesday, called on the people of Ladakh to use their franchise
"very carefully" this time in the interest of the nation.
A renowned
education reformist, Wangchuk has been on 'climate fast' in sub-zero
temperatures since 6 March, a day after talks between joint representatives of
Leh-based Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are jointly
spearheading the agitation to demand statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in
the Sixth Schedule, and the central government hit a deadlock.
The Sixth Schedule
contains provisions related to the administration of tribal areas in Assam,
Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through autonomous district councils. The
'climate fast' is likely to end later in the day as Leh-based Apex Body and KDA
will announce the future course of action on Wednesday.
Reminding the
prime minister of the promises made by the BJP in its election manifestoes,
Wangchuk said Modi is a devotee of Lord Ram and should follow his teaching of
'pran jaye par vachan na jaye' (one may lose their life, but must not break
their promise). "While India is the mother of democracy, we citizens have
a very special power. We are the kingmakers, we can compel a government to
change their ways or change the government if that doesn't work. Let us
remember to use our ballot power very carefully this time in the interest of
the nation," said Wangchuk, whose life inspired Aamir Khan's character
Rancho in Bollywood blockbuster "3 Idiots".
Lok Sabha
elections will be held in seven phases from 19 April to 1 June. Ladakh will go
to polls in the fifth phase on 20 May. Over the past 20 days, Wangchuk said,
around 60,000 of Ladakh's 3 lakh residents have participated in the hunger
strike demonstrating their pain but "no word came from this
government".
"We are
trying to remind and awaken the consciousness of our Prime Minister Modi and
Home Minister Amit Shah to safeguard the fragile ecosystem of Himalayan
mountains in Ladakh and the unique indigenous tribal cultures that thrive here.
"We do not
think of Modi and Amit (Shah) as just politicians, we would rather like to
think of them as statesmen and for that they will have to show some character
and some farsightedness," the climate activist said.
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